New Wildfires Pop Up in Los Angeles County to Close Out the Week

A new wildfire burning near Los Angeles is adding to the rash of blazes popping up in Southern California in recent days. Here is the latest on the wildfire situation in the Golden State.

Crews Battle the King Fire Burning Near Los Angeles

The King Fire erupted at about 1 am on Thursday morning about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. The latest major fire to ignite in California is impacting the hills located along Interstate 5 in the northwestern corner of Los Angeles County.

As of Friday, the King Fire had burned nearly 600 acres and was 40% contained. The good news about this fire is that it is burning in a remote area of the metro area, minimizing the number of mandatory evacuations. An RV park in the area was also told to shelter in place as the flames inched closer.

The California Highway Patrol was forced to close some portions of the heavily traveled highway. For instance, the on and off ramps near Smokey Bear Road were closed to motorists. Several of the rounds north of Pyramid Lake were also closed on Friday as a result of the fire.

Latest Update on the Canyon Fire and Hawk Fire

The King Fire is burning just a few miles to the north of the Canyon Fire. This major fire is now fully contained after scorching over 8 square miles spread across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Although the Canyon Fire is now completely contained, this did not happen until it had already destroyed seven structures and prompted the evacuation of thousands. Three firefighters were also injured on the scene.

Also in northern Los Angeles County, the Hawk Fire has burned about 500 acres since starting on Thursday. This blaze is now over 40% contained, according to the latest update from CalFire. Fire crews are growing confident that they have stopped the forward progress of the Hawk Fire.

While residents in the community of Acton were first told to evacuate when the fire ignited, the orders were later downgraded as crews got a better handle on the activity. Local officials have opened a recreation center in the town of Palmdale for those who need to leave their homes.

Meanwhile, the Gifford Fire retains its status as the largest wildfire to burn in California this year. This blaze has burned almost 207 square miles of land straddling Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. This blaze came to life on August 1.

According to the latest report from CalFire, the Gifford Fire is over 60% contained. This is up from a containment of just 41% on Thursday, giving residents hope that crews are gaining control over the megafire.

The second-largest fire in California is the Orleans Complex wildfire, raging across Del Norte and Siskiyou. This fire is 88% contained after burning over 22,000 acres so far.

The National Weather Service (NWS) field office in Los Angeles has been warning for weeks that the risk of wildfires will continue to be elevated across Southern California. A lack of moisture is amplifying the parched vegetation.

This is a good time to review your wildfire evacuation plans if you live in an area prone to these natural disasters. Peak wildfire season in California happens during the late summer and early fall months.

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